The 7 Most Eye-Popping Quotes From Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B) (NYSE: BRK-A) shareholder letter is out -- and with $58 billion and 83 years to his name, the Oracle of Omaha has a lot to say. Here are the seven juiciest quotes from Buffett's wise words.

1. "After all, you could always own an index fund and be assured of S&P results."Warren Buffett is usually first in line to point out the stupidity of most market minions, but his comparing of himself to the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) or one of its many index funds is laughable. In the past 20 years, Berkshire Hathaway stock is up 1,000%, smoking the S&P's returns.

2. "No one likes to buy auto insurance. But almost everyone likes to drive."

Some businesses are built on desires -- Berkshire Hathaway's Geico is built on necessities. Its auto insurance offerings are what people need at a price they can afford, and Berkshire Hathaway knows it. Its massive market share has helped create a nearly impenetrable competitive moat, while the "little gecko continues to tell Americans how Geico can save them important money."

3. "Both companies [NV Energy and H. J. Heinz] fit us well and will be prospering a century from now."

Source: NV Energy, Inc.

Sure, his nickname's the Oracle of Omaha, but can Buffett really see into the future a century from now? In the case of his $18 billion spent to acquire NV Energy (NYSE: NVE) and Heinz, he certainly things so.

4. "The [employment] increase ... included one person at our Omaha home office."

Source: Berkshirehathaway.com. "Power lunch, Berkshire-style."

Last year, Berkshire Hathaway added 42,283 new employees to its ranks to hit a record total of 330,745. That's equivalent to the population of St. Louis or Honolulu. But in his obsession with shareholder value creation, that massive increase included only one hire at HQ. And just in case you were worried about fancy new Omaha offices, Buffett adds that the "gang still fits comfortably on one floor."

5. "A bull market is like sex. It feels best just before it ends."

Source: Wikimedia Commons, lngfbruno. Wall Street Bull.

OK, so technically emerging-market mastermind Barton Biggs said it first, but Buffett quoted him in his letter to shareholders to make an important point: Timing is everything. Paying too much for anything is a bad idea, and "know-nothing" investors often invest everything when stocks are soaring too high. In a not-so-subtle allusion to his sexual simile, Buffett notes that "satisfactory results" are the most any wise investor should hope for.

6. "Come by bus; leave by private jet. Live a little."

Source: Netjets.com. Gulfstream G550/GV.

While Buffett enjoys a five-minute commute in his Cadillac DTS, that doesn't stop him from promoting Berkshire-owned private-jet company NetJets for his shareholder conference attendees.

7. "Could anyone really believe the earth was going to swallow up the incredible productive assets and unlimited human ingenuity existing in America?"In case you're wondering, it's a rhetorical question. Buffett asked this in dismay as millions sold their stocks in 2008 -- but Buffett held faithfully on. And in just half a decade, the Oracle of Omaha was proved right. From a peak just before 2008, shares are up around 35% -- and have kept up solidly with the S&P 500's (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) returns over the same period.

Get the best of Buffett's lettersWarren Buffett's latest shareholder letter is full of wisdom. He's made billions through his investing-and he wants you to be able to invest like him. Through years of letters, Buffett has offered up investing tips to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Now you can tap into the best of Warren Buffett's wisdom in a new special compilation report from The Motley Fool. Click here now for a free copy of this invaluable report.

Comments from our Foolish Readers

Help us keep this a respectfully Foolish area! This is a place for our readers to discuss, debate, and learn more about the Foolish investing topic you read about above. Help us keep it clean and safe. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Fool's Rules, please report it via the Report this Comment icon found on every comment.

I do like all the good words I read about this tremendous company called Berkshire Hathaway.

After all I am a Berkshire shareholder of long standing and as I see it I have put almost all of my eggs in that basket.

Which is alright by me, of course.

However, I have run into some difficulties which require guidance from a Berkshire Investor relations officer to assist me with. For weeks I have been trying to find someone to help. I find no one.

This is unprecedented in my experience. Other reputable blue chip companies, like GE, Apple, Microsoft, immediately and diligently helped me resolve similar issues which relate to my foreign resident tax status. I live in the United Kingdom.

I have written repeated emails to a contact I have

but this contact does not even confirm receipt of my

emails. She should be receiving them them because I have liaised with her through her email.

Is there anyone who can help. Send me an email address I could write to or perhaps give me advice what to do. I live in London, UK.